This sacrilegious film is divine

"Jesus loves you. Everyone else thinks you're an asshole." That bumper sticker is an underlying message in the irreverent comedy Saved!, a clever critique of Christian zealotry and hypocrisy and an exploration of the soul. This sharply written teen-angst film, focuses on the myriad social, sexual and psychological obstacles adolescents must face, often alone. In this case, however, salivating zealots of the omniscient savior complicate the pressures of youth.

When Mary, a fervently pious student at American Eagle Christian School, finds out her boyfriend Dean (Chad Faust) is gay, she has a vision from Jesus telling her to help Dean. Through prayer, she determines that, to save him from his "toxic affliction," she must sleep with him. After all, as Hilary Faye, her fanatical friend, tells her, "Jesus can restore your emotional and spiritual virginity."

Unfortunately, Mary is unable to stop Dean's "fagetry" and he is sent to Mercy House, a Christian Treatment Center, to start his "de-gayification." Meanwhile, Mary discovers she is blessed with an illegitimate child, a heavy burden in the midst of a thousand Jesus followers.

Mary finds her faith wavering as she attempts to hide her growing belly and her growing contempt for Hilary Faye, a self-proclaimed vessel of the Lord, who uses her fanatical faith to solidify her popularity at American Eagle. She viciously wields the Bible to crush her enemies' spiritual and social standing. Mary soon becomes an outcast and is befriended by other school pariahs. She finds her faith in Jesus challenged but discovers a purer spirituality through her tribulations.

The cast of Saved! is exquisite. Mandy Moore adds ardent believability to her duplicitous character, Hilary Faye. Her self-serving smirks and demon-eyed glares penetrate her angelic façade. Truly, if it were not for the hilarity of her lines, Hilary Faye would be scary.

Macaulay Culkin returns to the screen after a lengthy hiatus as witty wheelchair-bound, Roland, brother to Hilary Faye. Roland's sister selfishly employs him as a symbol of her charity. Roland breaks free of his sister's clutches by becoming involved with Cassandra, the school's lone Jew and acid-tongued rebel. Cassandra (Eva Amurri) relates to Roland as both are debilitated, he physically, she by her nonChristian heritage. They conspire to knock Hilary Faye down a few notches.

The crowning jewel of Saved! is the script, written by first-time feature director Brian Dannelly. Every line is packed with depth, and simultaneously, humor. To attract the youth, Principal/Pastor Skip (Martin Donovan) leads his flock with lines mimicking the secular world. "Who's down with G-O-D?! Let's kick it Jesus style!" The youth place faith over reason with devoted ignorance. "Prayer works, it's been medically proven." And intolerance is masked as Christian charity with little quips reminiscent of church marquee slogans. "You're not born a gay, you're born again."

Saved! will likely incite protests because the film exposes organized religion's soft underbelly, which an omniscient being must already witness, the message-clouding hypocrisy. If Jesus sees all, he will probably see Saved! twice and chuckle. Perhaps he will even save your seat.

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